As the world gears up to celebrate Charlie Chaplin's 127th birth anniversary on April 16, Aman Mehta gives a lowdown on why 'the tramp' is relevant even today
What was it about Charlie Chaplin that made him so appealing that he is still considered to be the greatest comedian the world has ever seen? Was it the fact that his brand of comedy incorporated everything from pathos to slapstick? The subtle politics of his humour? The commentary we receive on the social perils of the time? Or was it simply his toothbrush moustache, bowler hat, bedraggled suit and flat-footed walk?
Whatever the reason, there aren't many cinema-goers across the world who haven't watched a Chaplin film, or least heard of the man. Even those in today's generation, for whom silent, black-and-white comedy is anachronistic, if not alien, are aware of Chaplin and his remarkable legacy.
The 'cinematic clown genius' is a symbol of comedic history worldwide. It is not surprising then, that India too celebrates the man in its own way.
The Charlie Chaplin Cafe
This café in Pune was founded in November 2015 by Jay Pathak and Subhash B. Sanas. "I thought about how there are so many restaurants and pubs that celebrate Charlie Chaplin abroad and realised that India doesn't even have one!" Pathak says. The café, which serves fast food, is done up with Chaplin memorabilia collected by Pathak. Even the lampshades are in the form of bowler hats, and Chaplin movies play on television screens throughout the day.
The village of Adipur
Tucked away in Gujarat is a village that celebrates and even worships Chaplin. The birthplace of the 'Charlie Circle Fan Club', Adipur is host to a sizeable parade on April 16 every year. It began in 1973, when club founder Dr Ashok Aswani decided to commemorate the day. Since then, 200-300 people of all ages, dressed in the iconic bowler hat, donning a toothbrush moustache and brandishing a cane, parade the streets in the Chaplinesque bow-legged walk. All this, accompanied by a huge portrait of Chaplin, and a priest too.
Lakme Fashion Week
The QUO Summer Resort 2016 catwalk at the Lakme Fashion Week saw designer Ishita Mangal showcase her tribute to Chaplin. The collection included suits and pants that were edgy and androgynous. The colours she used were vibrant and distinct with contrasting striped and chequered patterns, much like the multi-faceted on-screen personality of Chaplin himself.
Bollywood
Perhaps the largest influence of Chaplin lies in the number of times he has been portrayed by Bollywood actors. The most famous, of course, is Raj Kapoor's Shree 420, specifically in the song Mera Joota Hai Japani, which sees the actor walking the 'Chaplin walk' dressed in a scruffy suit, bowler hat and bindle in hand, much like the tramp himself. Kapoor's Mera Naam Joker is often viewed as an adaptation of Chaplin's Limelight. It is for this reason that he came to be known as the 'Charlie Chaplin of Indian Cinema'.
There are many Bollywood impersonations – including Mehmood in Aulad, Sridevi in Mr. India, Chiranjeevi in Chantabbai and, more recently, Ranbir Kapoor in Barfi.
Chaplin, Buster Keaton or Laurel & Hardy?
"Charlie Chaplin was definitely the best comedian, surpassing the likes of Buster Keaton and Laurel & Hardy. Chaplin's use of themes like love, loneliness and money is what makes him immortal. Without him, the idea that the self was an object of comedy would have been impossible to fathom. I think the notion that we can laugh at ourselves by making ourselves look ridiculous and evaluating the ludicrousness of the world was his invention."
-Anuvab Pal
"I was a great fan of Chaplin, but veered towards my all-time favourites, the Marx Brothers, as I grew older. Chaplin was exceptional because his comedy was well ahead of its time. The way he circumvented censorship issues of the day through comedy made him universally appealing. In The Great Dictator, Chaplin parodies Hitler brilliantly. It is believed that Hitler watched the film and deemed it a masterpiece, realising only later that he was being made fun of. To be so funny that the people you target aren't even aware of it is outstanding."
-Sorabh Pant
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